Medicinal spas in Budapest

Medicinal baths in Budapest

Budapest is a city of medicinal baths. Although baths from Roman times (2nd century) have been uncovered in Budapest, the true bathing culture was initiated during the period of Turkish occupation in the 6th and 11th centuries. Even today there are four Turkish baths in the capital (Rudas, Rac, Kiraly, Csaszar), each one a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture.

Hungary's thermal baths have been used for 2,000 years for cleansing, relaxation and easing aches and pains. The Romans were the first to use Hungary's thermal waters in the first century, when they built baths on the banks of the Danube River. Budapest lies on a geological fault that separates the Buda hills from plains. More than 30,000 cubic metres of warm to scalding mineral water gushes from 118 thermal springs and supply the city's thermal baths.

Gellert Spa BathsXL, Kelenhegyi ut 4-6 One of the most popular baths for tourists coming to Budapest. The medicinal spring here was already famed in the 13th century. The spa is decorated with a wealth of original Art Nouveau furnishings, artistic mosaics, stained glass windows and sculptures, although the interior of the hotel built alongside has lost many of these fittings over the years.

Kiraly Medicinal BathsII., Fő utca 82-84It is believed that a start was made on building the bath by Pasha of Buda Arslan in 1565. It is one of the few remaining monuments from the Turkish times, receiving the visitor in all the original magnificence of a period Ottoman palace of bathing.

Lukacs Medicinal Baths and Swimming PoolII., Frankel Leo utca 25-29In addition to the medicinal bath section of the bathing complex built in the 19th century, the swimming pool is also very popular, attracting writers and artists among its regular clients. The 1800-square-metre park with trees, many of which are centuries old, is an ideal place for relaxing.

Rudas Medicinal Baths and swimming poolI., Döbrentei ter 9 After several years of restoration work the Turkish baths section reopened in December 2005. The original fittings dating from the 16th century are still in use today. An octagonal pool is sited under the characteristic Turkish dome (diameter 10 m) supported on 8 pillars. Medicinal waters can be taken in the pump-room in cure form.

Szechenyi Spa BathsXIV., Allatkerti ut 11 One of the largest bathing complexes in Europe, the premier medicinal bath of Pest. Its thermal springs were discovered in 1879; they are the deepest and hottest (74-75° C) thermal wells in the capital. The neo-Baroque baths were built in 1913, the swimming pool in 1927. The open-air sections with their pleasantly warm waters are equally popular in winter.